Durant files bill to cap public school budget increases

A legislative bill initiated by the Dudley Board of Selectmen to cap annual increases in public school funding at 2-1/2 percent was filed by state Rep. Peter J. Durant, R-Spencer, Friday.

If enacted as written, the legislation, titled “Sustainable Education Funding Act,” would force school systems and regional school districts statewide to operate within the same budget constraints as the municipalities they serve.

Mr. Durant reviewed the proposed bill, which seeks to amend the state's law governing school funding, during a joint meeting of the Dudley finance committee and Board of Selectmen on Thursday.

“It would put schools and school systems on the same level footing that municipalities have to go through with Proposition 2-1/2. If schools should increase their expenses more than the 2-1/2 percent, they would have to go for an override,” Mr. Durant said.

Dudley Selectman Jonathan Ruda proposed the act to thwart education spending that outpaces a town's ability to raise new revenue under the limits imposed by Proposition 2-1/2.

“Anyone who believes this is an anti-education amendment is missing the point entirely and is furthering the rhetoric that has served as an excuse for our elected state officials to ignore this serious problem for decades. This amendment is not anti-education, it's anti-Chapter 70, and it impacts every city and town in Massachusetts,” Mr. Ruda said in an interview.

School funding is determined by the state Chapter 70 formula, which, in part, considers a town's property value and its residents' aggregate income to set a target amount towns and cities are to contribute to education.

Dudley is among 110 municipalities in the state that contribute less than its target. Therefore, the state has assessed a “catch-up” amount the past few years to narrow the gap.

According to the assessor's office, Dudley is able to raise an additional $194,273 in tax revenue during fiscal 2014, which begins July 1. With new growth Dudley will see a revenue increase of $224,273 in fiscal 2014.

Yet, as the regional school budgets stand today, Dudley's obligation to its schools will exceed its projected revenue gain by $319,016.

“Simply put, a law that requires any town to spend more tax money than it has the legal capacity to raise is mathematically unsustainable. The intent of this amendment is to remedy that,” Mr. Ruda said.

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District officials have pledged to pursue budget cuts in the weeks ahead that would reduce their present fiscal 2014 increase of $423,553, or 7.3 percent.

With the Chapter 70 amendment proposal, those increases would trigger an override election for both school districts.

Mr. Durant said a regional school district would need approval from a majority of its member towns to approve the override, while a tie would defeat the measure. Therefore, both Dudley and Charlton would have to pass an override triggered by the Dudley-Charlton school district. For Bay Path, approval by six of its 10 member towns would be needed.

Mr. Durant informed selectmen that an education increase of less than 2-1/2 percent could still outpace the town's gains in revenue each year.

“It's still better than what we have, by a lot,” finance committee Chairman Allan Marble said.

State Senate President pro tempore Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Mr. Durant met with Dudley selectmen several months ago to discuss Mr. Ruda's concept and its potential for draft legislation. Word from Mr. Moore's office Friday was that he supports the concept and plans to co-sponsor the bill if it aligns with the state's plan for all municipalities to pay their targeted share for education.

Mr. Durant encouraged the Dudley officials to rally other towns for support by pressing their state legislators to co-sponsor the bill within the next 10 days.